Editorial salvation by djkauf

Creative Consultancy by

Bailey Summers,

My wonderful, funny, insightful and talented girls [ Anna 12y] and[Crystal 9y]

Ms Mary Adelaide Wilkinson [ my mother who dragged me all over the back roads of Colorado bringing those historical souls back to life. ]

Teha Kendi Actress Playwright Director Screen writer. Mother Best Friend, Wife, and the first person to give my writing a good review.

With out all of the efforts from the above this story would never seen the light of an audience.

Betty

After breakfast we crossed the highway from the Cafe, to take a look at the closed Chamber of Commerce building. There were a few old brochures about attractions. We found one that was five years old with a map of the township.

Walking on a stone walkway around the building, I found there was an area with eight outside protected display boards. These boards painted a panorama of the town from its start as Forest City; a gold rush boom town, through its rebirth ten years later as Haven. Pictures are windows into the past, like little time machines but unfortunately they are flat with no depth.

Pictures from the founding through the war years of WW I and 2, then even more from modern times up into the 1990s and to the near present...these gave a static sense of life then but no smells, no sound, no real sense of the people themselves. But from what I could discern, this place intrigued me.

There was a more detailed general map of the town and surrounding areas, I pulled out my tablet to take pictures of all the pictures on the boards. Being careful to overlap the pictures so I captured a tiled view of the contents of all 8 boards. Something in the pictures tickled my mind but I will look closer later for what it is. But I could see that there were faces from the past and present that were related to each other.

Anna started to read about how the town was re-founded to be a spiritualist Mecca in the 1900. The last bit of writing was was dated 1989 and spoke about the towns being owned by the residents and their hopes, goals.

Anna must be thinking I was going deaf, she started talking, quietly to Crystal, who can never talk quietly, which started them both jabbering among themselves. They chatted about how it could be so neat to meet other kids from here to find out what they think about living here.

" Crystal this would be such a nice place.”

“ Why, because crazy Kurt is not here? “

"Yeah that too, but have you seen that adults here, listen to what you are saying? And they use the same lame jokes, like mama? It's a grown up way of being like us “

' Ya it's like a whole lots of people here think like mama.. You know I think mama would like living here, there are more people like her.. ,Anna Margie at the restaurant told me we fit in here.? “

“I think it would really be nice that mama would be happy,and not so sad all the time. People like Kurt being mean is really hurting her. She is being pecked to death out there. Maybe she will be safe here."

" I think you’re right about being safe here. This place feels like home did before mommy died. This is a place mommy would like to live. Lowering her voice to a whisper. Crystal don't tell mama but I talked to mommy's ghost last night. She had just kissed mama behind the ear last night. Then as you slept she kissed you, then told me we should stay here,and if we do, she wants to be here with us.”

As the mama I must always keep an ear open to what is going on whether I like it or not. I like what I hear. It would seem the kids are both voting to stay. And it is so sweet the girls are thinking about me as well. Would living somewhere around here be that bad. I am really surprised at how fast this is going. Sometimes that's the way things work, if you are worrying too much, things can hide in plain sight. Relax and go with the flow, then the solution finds you. Here I have been looking for a place like this, fretting that it may not exist. When I gave things over to my guidance, it finds me. Now I just need to get my nerves to accept this, when changes happen this fast it makes me queasy, like a ride on a roller coaster, with no seat belts.

This is where my discipline, smarts and experience figure in to the equation. Because when you separate what your desire is from what vibe you are sensing, it filters out the interference created by your fear of being wrong. The wisdom is knowing the difference between hitting the nail in the board, from hitting the nail on your hand. Now where did I put my antacids ?

Betty

I gave the display boards another once over taking another picture of the township map and its legend before telling the girls .

" Girls, let’s get walking and see what's going on. After we see the main drag here then break for lunch and then see what we want to do next."

We did our walk around and took a lot of pictures. We stopped at the Heavenly Bean the coffee roaster whose motto was ' Where Heaven buys coffee.' I was in Heaven sampling all of the different types of drip coffee that was fresh today. After six small sample cups I was very jazzed and very contentedly happy. I just had to have a pound of the a special Hazel Nut medium roast coffee.”

The next stop was at the” Pastry Cornucopia “ where I got a mixed sample box, then spent time talking to the owners finding them to be a lot of fun and charismatic. Now I had a sugar high to go with my coffee buzz.

I turned toward the convenience store gas station and my stomach went sour, Looking closely I could see the darkness around it. I pulled the kids back towards me as I watched several townspeople avoid even driving through the frontage access to the highway preferring instead to drive to another access point farther away.

“Let’s not go there, kids, it has a really bad vibe about that store”. Soon as we backed away I was strongly drawn to Dells dairy store . I noted on my slate this gas station has something bad about it. I noted the name of the company listed on their sign to research later.

We back tracked just a few paces to stop at a local Dairy. The clerk at the counter was a twenty something young man named Lester, who was quite animated and chatty; telling me about the town and their products.

I was able to buy a half gallon of milk for cereal and for the kids to drink. We were talking about their small pints of ice cream, when there was a commotion from outside and our Lester muttered “not again.”

“Whats happening Les. Just then a young women bolted past the door slid to a stop and lunged in, crying “protect me”. She was hysterically crying , her nose and the side of her face was bleeding from a savage blow by what looked to be a ham sized fist. I bent over to help her when a very gruff voice came from the door

“Get away from her, you witch, she belongs to God and I am his right hand.”

The girl was only about 14 at the most and from how she was acting she needed medical attention now. I have seen my share of battered children and women working in shelters. And I had only one response to what I was seeing and that was cold steely anger. I turned to look at this bearded refugee from deliverance and I see his right fist is bloodied with strands of hair the same color as the wounded child who my kids, and the clerk were dragging behind the counter. I tossed my phone to Anna who looked at me wide eyed.

I was no shrinking violet when it came to protecting children, and I had all ready prepared myself for a fight; having lived in Philadelphia for a spell I was always prepared for what ever. Bad back or not I was going to stand up to him. Slipping my collapsing whip batons out of my bag. It was time to get medieval on his ass.

“ So, when does the right hand of God get the job of crushing a child's head?”

“It’s none of your business, witch. I am anointed by God and responsible for the brat so give her to me now.”

“ I talk to God all the time and he never clued me in about talking to a stupid, inbred moron. You keep calling me a witch; do you expect me to grow a pointy hat or something.”

“You’re just stalling” as he advanced on me trying to trap me against the counter. My Tai Chi training and my incredible aim was my edge. His stupidity made him underestimate this woman’s pluckiness, to stand against him was just the icing on the cake.

His first lunge and grab only got him air and some quick slaps from the whip like collapsible batons. My friends in Taipei had procured these for me from their Sensei. The sudden rap on several nerve clusters did not deter him as he turned to tackle me as I bolted out of the door. My strikes did not stop him but they spoiled his aim and slowed him down, just enough, for me to make a graceful exit stage left. I needed to keep my movements well planned and smooth so I don't throw my back out. Meaning I needed to end this now.

Outside gave me some more room to move and stay out of his grasp. This allowed me to really wale away at every place the big dolt had nerve clusters I could hit. After a few moments his nose was broken, both eyes blackened, several teeth on the ground. He now had more bruises than he would have gotten than if he had base jumped , sans parachute, into a boulder field, After three passes he finally had the sense to just to stay down.

The ambulance was the first to get here and it took some encouragement to get them to minister to the girl inside first. Bob from the diner ran up to me to see if I was Ok. As they were doing this a state trooper pickup truck pulling some trailer skidded to a stop. An older officer came bounding over to find out what was happening. He talked to Bob first then he came up to me.

“ Pardon me, Miss, do you know what just happened here?”

“ Sorry, officer; the gentleman 'car accident' there, was trying to kill a young girl who ran into the dairy with her face all busted up and blood dripping. I was already there, when she came in crying for help.

This gentleman then tried to attack me, so I got out of his way by leaving the store. He followed me out here screaming he was going to kill me but in the process he had several unfortunate accidents, carelessly running into things, before falling down to sleep off what ever he is onf.”

The officer looking skeptically at me, then the man on the ground. Then he asked me.” are you Ok, do you need to set down? ” I nodded then he called Bob over telling him to take me over and take care of me.

“ Bob, watch for shock, call me if you need me.”.

I noticed someone taking care of the girl behind the counter having an inflatable neck brace put on her and speaking quietly to her as she was still responsive and awake.

Then the gurney came out with the girl on it. The one lead EMT ran up to the officer telling him, there’s a need to clear the area for a Medical Chopper that was soon to land.

Officer McMillan had a particularly dark look on his face when he asked if the big guy was OK enough to transport to County lock up. The EMT dealt with the still prone man like dealing with a wild bear. “ Yes, I would think so, but I really don't want to take a chance of him getting loose and killing all of us in the process.”

The officer talked on the radio and looked at the Bear trap then at prone figure and laughed a truly gallows laugh. About 5 minutes later the brute was cuffed and loaded into the bear trap on top of some blankets procured for the purpose. The chopper arrived and the young girl was evacuated to Harbor View Hospital in Seattle.

I was helped to the Diner by some very well meaning people, thus allowing the drama to take care of itself. There was enough personal drama for me to take care of. Both girls were hugging me as I sat down in an offered chair,

I was amazed at how responsive the entire town was turning out to help with this situation. It reminded me of the Minute Men from the revolutionary war time. Here it would appear that most of the residents have some training on how to handle emergencies.

Betty

I was slightly drained from both fighting and using my protection warding's for the entire family. This strange situation really rattled us making all three of us a bit shaken from what just happened.

I haven't had a place react this strongly to my presence since I got drafted into my first community action group. I was just through my transition when a real estate company was trying to push our LGBT center out to develop a property. It was odd that every move they made I was just randomly there, it was not planned in any way. I did not think about it. It was like some force of nature using me to trip them up. That's when I was told by the the old women who owned the building about a gift I have in being able to make a difference for the better where I lived.

Funny why would I think about Mrs Cravits from 30 years ago here and now.?

Marge

I was just serving coffee to Jessie when she got distracted and
accidentally pulled her cup away from my aim.

“ Marge, look, it's that new girl from that god awful gas station running away, bleeding from the side of her head. Now there is that brutal chap who owned the place chasing her.”

Bob, the diner owner, came out from the back and yelled “Any one with a phone call 911 now”. as he ran out of the front door. Every one was at the windows staring at the show across the street in front of the Dell's Dairy.

Next to Dell’s there is a gas station which was recently bought by a thug we all call Mongo. I could see his latest employee ,a young girl, running and screaming across the parking lot, as she ran into Dell’s Dairy crying for help, Mongo was following close behind the kid, looking for blood. Both were out of sight for a moment inside before another person then ran out with Mongo following closely behind them. When that person turned and faced each other I saw it was Betty he had chased out of the building. Betty took what looked to be a dance pose in front of the big man who charged like a bull. Betty moved smoothly look like Kung Fu dancer striking Mongo a bunch of times with something in her hands. Two then three passes and big man was laying out in the dirt.

By then Bob was looking at Mongo on the ground. Looking down on the ground scratching his head at the unexpected sight. Turning to us in the window he shrugged his shoulders wearing a big grin on his face. Bruce, our former town Sheriff, arrived driving his State Police truck, towing a bear relocation trap. Then there were two of them looking at the crumbled mass on the ground scratching their heads and laughing.

Sobriety returned with a vengeance when Anna ran out to them pulling Bruce into the Dell's with some urgency. Bruce started to talk on his radio to someone as Samuel, our Paramedic, ran into Dell’s bag and back board in hand.

Roslyn from the hair dresser ran over to us, gasping for breath, telling me “Marge that visitor Betty has really beating down that awful brute. “ before pausing for another breath.

“Roslyn, slow down girl, sit here is some tea tell me what you know slowly,”

“Mongo started slapping the little blond girl around for spilling coffee on the floor. She started to run away when he hit her really hard. The kid ran into Dell's with that monster chasing her. He tangled with Betty who mouthed off to him to draw him back outside. He chased her screaming God is going to kill you. Betty got some room to move and pulled something out of her skirt and she beat the stuffing out of Mongo with it.”

The sound of the approaching chopper got every one on the scene to move to assist. Lanes were blocked and things were moved out of the way, allowing the chopper to land safely. With a smooth motion from years of practice, the crew had the child prepped and loaded in just a few minuets. Samuel went with them explaining what was happening along the way.

After all of the excitement with the chopper’s departure Bob came
back to the diner.

“ Margery when they get Betty over here what ever she orders is on the house; good grief that women doesn't waste any time getting busy, does she.? We just gotta convince her to stay here. I haven't seen so much positive action in this town since well, you know Marge.? “ The last part sounded quietly respectful.

Yes I did and I felt no sorrow admitting to that. I know that where ever Ann is right now, she sent this breath of fresh air to wake us up. Good bad or indifferent, Betty was sent here by the spirits, to shake things up. Ann 's spirit has provided us with this landslide of hope, named Betty. , Us mere pebbles need to git ready for a wild ride.

Betty

I never expected to be playing David against Goliath like that ass hat. That girl was only 14 years old and was being forced to work off her sins against her Church rules. She had panicked when screamed at for spilling some hot coffee then bolted out of an open door from the cashier register station she was locked into.

Mongo grabbed her by the hair so when she screamed in pain he closed fist belted her in the side of her face and mouth. The medical evacuation folks told me that she has some crushed bones in her face that may never fully recover, but my pulling him away from her, then the kids and clerks fast thinking pulling her out of sight gave her the best chance she could have.

That man has to be on anabolic steroids because people do not become that grotesquely deformed by natural means. His rage was not naturally fueled; I could sense that much, he had completely run off the tracks. There was no human left at that moment inside of him, only unreasoning animal rage.

Betty

Emotionally I was a shambles, as I always am after a physical confrontation, but the person who can stand, must stand, or all is lost.

I was shocked that the State Cop didn't arrest me, he gave me his card told me to stay put, then he simply took charge who he called Mongo after the EMT refused to transport him due to their safety concerns. The Trooper calmly cuffed and got some help loading Mongo into a reeking Bear live trap, dropped the door and hauled him off.

The response of the people of Haven was remarkable. I was escorted over to the Dragon’s Diner like a parade hero. My children were praised , by Les, the clerk for their quick thinking saving the girls life.

Lester

“ Anna and Crystal jumped in and pulled the girl behind the counter while Betty got Mongo outside, I knew that Bruce was working near by so I called the State Patrol dispatch where my aunt works , and lady luck had our back, she took my call, and Bruce was just up the road . “

Betty

The three of us had a need for extreme comfort food. I had a hot roast beef open faced sandwich, mashed spuds, and a salad, Anna had a taco salad and a small side of fries, then Crystal had her beloved corn dogs, and her raw carrots. We ate slowly and comforted each other.

I was brought out of my emotional retreat by several people coming up to our table. There was Bob, the owner, a tall women who looked like Samantha's and Nominee's mom and a couple of others I could not even put a guess at.

“ Betty, girls Bob started:It has been a long time since I have witnessed such a display of bravery and cool headed action. On behalf of the town of Haven 'Shire' as you called it Betty, I want to thank you for living up to what this town has tried to be, without even knowing who we are. For the rest of your visit here your food and lodging are on us. No arguments, no fuss”,

The tall woman identified herself as Samantha's and Nominee's mom then added.

“Betty, I have not had the pleasure of meeting you and your girls until now; for that I am sorry. I am Sam's and Nom's mom Sandra Kline, and I wish to invite you and your family to move here to our Shire. Your room is on us no arguments. And yes, Anna, you are so welcomed, very welcomed. Here, young lady.“

One of the men in the gaggle of people stepped up and slid his card on the table

“ I am the kids uncle and I do have some properties here in town which I am sure I could convince the town to rent to you through your voucher.”

The rest of the people thanked me and some left cards asking me to call them if I needed any services.

All three of us were floored at this offer. We never had been welcomed to any place before; here is a chance for us to really get a restart for our family. I looked over at the girls who were as stunned as I was.

Anna was first to say “ We are welcomed here that's a real difference.”
She had a smile on her face and so did Crystal.

“ Let’s say, girls, I will give this all a little thought and answer you tonight. Right now I don't see any reason why not.” That sent the two of them bouncing on their seats with unbridled enthusiasm only kids have.

Betty

Some other kids of varying ages came in with book bags and sat down in a marked off area of the diner. The sign above the spot simply stated BOOK Nook Club. After about ten long minutes my kids were begging to go talk with them.

Just then a couple of the kids one boy one girl came to our table and politely asked if my two could join the group?

“If it's OK with them, sure, have fun. “

This gave me some time to tinker with Haven's map images, trying to enhance the image then annotate it with my and the girl's observations. I noticed that my girls were getting along well with the kids. With both of my kids showing the local kids their tablet pictures, and talking very animatedly about the sharing.

When Margie refilled my coffee I asked if we needed to get out of the way?

" Get out of the way, of what? Your kids, and you are the town's hero's. Bob is likely to set aside a booth just for the three of you, Also you’re doing us a favor playing decoy ducks and drawing in business ,so just stay put. Anyway if you can't tell we like having you around. If you don't mind I am about to go on break may I join you.?"

" Sure I could use some company. It would appear my entourage has deserted me for more age appropriate company."

" Ya got a couple of really good kids. To let you know so are the the kids they are talking to. They hang out here after school, eat a plate of fries, and do their homework, like a study club .”

" Thanks for the compliment about my kids. So are the kids here still in school?"

" Yep it's the summer session the teacher focuses on fun stuff and it's good to keep them sharp, and out of trouble. Then we keep an eye on them after school until the parents get home. It gives them time to do their homework and socialize."

" I really need to talk to a 'knowledgeable local' about some things. Could I please pick your brain for a bit?"

" Good luck on finding it, I think the local ravens may have pecked it away. . But I will share what they have left me”

I could only smile and giggle at her joke. She returned in a few minuets with a full dressed burger and fries. Good grief it looks good, but so did all the food from Bob's kitchen.

Betty

“Well Betty what are you look-en to find out about Haven”

“I am starting with nothing, Marge, So all I have is Questions. The kids and I just took a walk across the highway to look over the other side of the town. And I am left with a very big question, what happened to derail this lovely town. I found a map of Haven at the chamber of commerce. The boards behind the building tell a story of a successful and vibrant community. There are pictures of the beginnings of the town the middle during the war years then recently up to about 2004 then the pictures stop. Now from what I can see, It's like someone pulled the fuse leaving the town to just wither on the vine?. I don't git it.”

“ Wow, how long do you have, it's a long story, that I can't cut corners telling, this place is complicated.”

“ Margie, I am Scottish and American Indian. I am a widowed mother of two bright girls; to support them I have been a grass roots organizer, done administrative work for nonprofit organizations, ran food banks. I had my own craft business, I also did volunteer work for a community market garden in Seattle's Capital Hill district. I thrive on complication. And I am really thinking of relocating here”

“ Are you crazy, woman? No don't answer that, it could incriminate the two of us, me for asking, you for answering.”

Laughing at Marge's patter I noticed that I am very at ease with her and at being here.

“ Marge how much do you know about the founding purpose of this town, to give good a chance.”

“ That stood out to you did it?. Its been a long time between the last person who understood that and you. I just hope you do not go off laughing.”

I could only shake my head and mumble. “ Their loss.” Marge's eyebrows picked up at my comment.

“ Betty this place was founded by a group of very diverse people trying to create a better place intentionally separate from the rest of the world. The founders noticed that every law and custom that has ruled for over 2000 years has been based on rewarding bad and punishing good. The founders snagged up on an Idea that Confucius made popular in China centuries ago when he was given a challenge to reform a notoriously bad Province. When the Emperor ask how he did it, Confucius answered 'Simple; I rewarded the good and punished the bad.' Working on that simple principle we had Transcendentalists, Swedenborg., Charismatic Christians, Buddhist’s, and a passel full of other good folk who came here from over in Blessings to create Haven as a doorway, and a Spiritual Fort of sorts, protecting Blessings, and what we call the Sanctuary’s lower flank ,from investors and spectaculars in the 1890s. 1900.

They worked to remove the incentive people has to attack each others lives by creating a community in which inspired social cooperation rather than blood thirsty competition. People were encouraged to do good things for the township, for their neighbors and for people outside of this community. The town council was created to operate as a guidance and accounting system keeping track of the mundane facts and numbers needed to really know who was doing what.. We are all neighbors who work very closely with each other in an attempt to create an working relationship between people on a non competitive basis. Example: those kids your kids are sitting with, earn credits by mowing the lawns of people who can't mow there own lawns, or houses which are vacant and the township owned properties, they pick up trash, do minor repairs like painting and cleaning up after a project, telling us when something is wrong with a light or a road surface. Kids are everywhere in the town, and around our limits so they see so much more than adults can pick up on..

They redeem those credits here and at places in town for snacks merchandise , and services. The businesspeople are payed fairly by the township sometimes in the form of Tax abatement or Meta we like to call it. The kids take pride in their town, get the idea of working , and understand the concept of service. One stone three birds DOA.”

The brilliance of this concept floored me. “What about the Adults, what do they do.”

Well, Tom, in the corner, is a heavy equipment operator, so he does the road repair work, and helps his neighbors. The town ship gives him the space for his equipment storage behind the Police Station. He is payed time and material by the township for the other projects. There a few people who help him on these projects to earn extra pocket money. Sam's heavy truck repair shop up town towards the hills, repairs Tom's, and the city's equipment at cost. There are others involved but the township’s money is in low supply for what we need to do.”

“ That's so neat; I love that, does this go back to the founding of the town.”

“ Yes, from the beginnings of the town we nested functions and funding of those functions and projects, putting into practice, spiritual principles and beliefs. Because all those different spiritualistic beliefs have many of the same foundation principles every one focused on just how we were alike.”

“Now the 64 dollar question, how is it working today?”

Marge grimaced “ It's still working, but the town is having problems keeping businesses in town. The Banks have red lined this township because we do not play by there rules. We still hold on to our beliefs, and because we do they call us Communists and silly idealistic fools. We still have a lot of residents here but their dollars are going elsewhere. We just are a bedroom community for the job markets.“

“Sounds like' Ye be' under siege, Lady Marguerite, and in danger of being starved out.”

“ You got it. We have lasted for over a decade in this war. Our food and water is still good but morale is low and people are getting scared that the state will reincorporate us under another standard township charter to give the banks a shot at our property.”

“Is that why, that inconvenience store is here.? “

“ Yep we had to let them put it in last year when some court decided our protective covenant was too restrictive and anti Business. The yahoo who owns that chain is a real work and so is the one who sued to force it in. it's just more money intercepted and taken out of our mouths. No one from here goes there, and it drove our gas station out of business.”

This angered me to no end I have seen this type of of warfare destroy many small town business districts, and the community organizer in me knew by experience what was happening; getting my hackles up. This old war dog in me was saying to her self, Game On, I can help them stop this. If they can give me a place to stand

“ Margie this is just too weird to be true, and I don't know how to say this with out sounding vain, but I may just have a few ideas that would go a long way in helping this situation.”

“ Yo girl unless you are going to be' boots on the ground here', it won't help much. We are down to a skeleton city council, and all of them are tied down with living and family making.”

“Margie, have you just thrown a gauntlet down at me. Are you calling me out?”

Margie looked at me with a conspiratorial look on her face, and mouthed “who me” silently. Causing both of us to laugh like a couple of school girls.

Bob

I came out of the kitchen to see how things looked, and there was Marge and Betty. The two of them were whispering together like a couple of old friends. It's good to see Margie smile again, being the head of the steerage coven is such a strain on her that I worry.

It is so easy to like Betty, her kids are sharp and sweetly funny. I got a feeling that with a little help, Betty may just stay here for a spell. Maybe I could bribe her with my grandmothers corn bread.? Na she is not that cheap I would have to use a Smoked ham, a mess of greens and the corn bread.

I can see that Betty is the type of person you really want to have on your side, just because she is such good people. She will not run from a challenge and from what I saw today she is a real rock.

There is a melancholy about her, though and many wounds weighing her down. People are just stupid to abuse away a good person. But their loss is our gain. I just read a good vibe from Betty that I trust her. Because after 25 years on the LAPD if you don't, or can’t, read people you’re dead. “

Marge

After just a hour of talking to Betty, I was almost hyperventilating at what she shared with me. Her positive and inquisitive personality spoke volumes to me . Bent but never broken. Fiercely loyal to her beliefs , her children and then to her community.

She was not at all stuck up. But very confident in what she knows, and can do. Just from the few minutes I talked to her I could sense she was the deepest person I have met in many a year.

She uses her humor and wit to great effect in communication, but that also keeps private, a wound, she carries with pride and honor. Rather than weaker, that wound makes her stronger, and compassionately solid; what Bob would call a rock.

At the same time Betty is heavily veiled, making a deep read impossible. But the glimpse I have seen makes me like ,and trust her enough that I want her to stay and be my friend. Thinking about Ann it comes to me that Betty is a modern update but still having the same spark and flame.

Betty

Marge had to go back to work so I was able to get away without giving myself away. I got the maximum amount of information with the lowest exposure of myself. Marge is really good at her craft, I was just able to keep ahead of her scans and probing.

There is so much more going on here than I ever could guess at. This is an epic struggle to hold onto what this socially advanced community has accomplished ,that has stood over one hundred years, If entropy was just a force of physics why does this feel like it is directed and had a face. It had a consciousness and it was restlessly trying to pull this town back into chaos that surrounds it.

There is nothing I can think of to compare this place to. With the exception of the Quaker, Shaker and Amish Mennonite communities which are one religion examples not a plurality . I need to look up some of the other names on the internet. I never even heard of Swedenborg or Universalism, except as a reference in one of my teacher Maggie's text books. Now they are becoming a living breathing people, whose lives and efforts I care about.

Betty

I opened my pad and hooked up the key board to record my thoughts. This beats talking to my self in public.!

“Typing”

Statement; Before I can make any decisions, I need to define the question,

Question :Do I stay and help? Or do I just pass through.
Note to self; the second option leaves a nasty taste in my mouth.

Fact; This is all or nothing! If I can't help, or they say no I need to get out.

Fact; This type of battle isn't new to me. I have worked with several
communities trying to save them from the lingering death with only partial success.

Fact; I am tired of coming into a struggle to save a community after most all of the businesses had been killed, and the fight is really close to lost.

Fact; This is a living community, That has its act straight right now.

Fact; I have never had such a good situation to work with.

Fact; I do have the strength to join them in this battle for them.

Question; But is this my personal vendetta ?

Question; Is this is my great white whale.?

Question; If so do I have the right to involve them in my very personal fight?.

Desire ; I need to win a battle for my soul, I need, to give those bas@#$ds a dose of there own medicine stopping them here in their tracks.

Fact; If we win this? it could save this community, and create a working model that shows others that it can be done.

Argument; Good goddess Betty, listen to yourself, you have gone mad like Ahab or worse yet Napoleon, or Caesar.?. What makes me think I can be a leader in this effort? what if I fail.? Could this be their Waterloo and mine?

Question ; Can I handle these responsibilities, and the consequences .?

Statement; Ouch! this makes my head hurt.!

Fact: But if I do nothing, this town and all the work that went into creating and maintaining it may likely die.

Fact; Things are broken now. Question; could I break it any more?

Fact: If nothing is done this place will be erased from the earth like it never happened. Like another Sand Creek. Or Wounded Knee. No one remembers those any more.

Decision 1; So why not place my cards on the table and let them make the decisions?

Question; Aren't the goals we both have here the same?

Question; Do I have the same goals that they have, and want the same thing they want.?

Question; So why not help them do what they are trying to do. Because I want to do the same thing?

Fact; I think I need to think this out.
Question ;Whoa; isn't that what got me this headache to start with.

Haven’s Salvation

James.
There was a disturbance around me causing me to look to where it ended. In my natural wolf form I stand about seven foot something and change allowing me extra leverage for this work. Coming from around where I was working the timbers for my roof I was surprised to see Mr Keven Smith. Then the unmistakable profile of my fourth charge, the lovely Morgan La Fay. She is the daughter and Inheritor of her mother’s station. Fay held a wicker picnic basket, and a blanket looking like a person going to a gathering in the city, nor the back country wilds of Scotland.

The smile on her face lit up the countryside like a field of wild flowers.

Seeing her opened my heart wide, we were friends as well as peers. Our talent differences prevented any physical relationships but our friendship more than made up for any other lacking.

“ Fay merry meet today. What brings your ladyship to my humble crumbled home.?”

“ AI James I am here on an errand of mercy to save Keven from begging for your help. I am also here to see a dear friend and then to offer credence to Keven's offer of assistance in reclaiming your ancestral home. “

Fay asked me to join her in the shadow of the keep where she set up quite a spread of cold cut venison, and wild boar, there was wild marinaded mushrooms a proper rustic breadbasket butter contaminants of horseradish mustard, a lovely bottle of Spanish Sherry from her own estate. Vintage this was, 1885 a fine year. We started to sup , so I continued the conversation.

“ Then my fair lady what's the scary moat monster lurking in the basements of this situation? Of which no one is telling me about.? This request and the offer of highly valuable considerations, leaves me concerned about what I may be getting my self into ? I loved Ann, it was bad enough to she needed me to leave her body there in the States. What was so impotent not to bring her back to her soil, why was she was left there for her final rest?, But then to disturb her? That will demand, a powerful amount of persuasion. ”

“Always to the point and loyal beyond any expectation of service! Ann and I love you for that. Then there are many other reasons, surrounding this request.” Fay paused then continuing with a trustful sincerity in her voice. James this is truly an essential mission and one Ann is requesting of you to attend to personally.”

“Fay, why would Ann ask you anything from where she is.”

“Let’s just say James: the rumor of her death is greatly exaggerated. She is in a sorceresses sleep to preserve what she had to be able to perform her final act in choosing and training her successor. She could not tell you before because the enemies of what the two of you were doing in haven. Ann created a ruse to convince our opponents that she was not able to find a successor and that she was interned away from Haven. When she is done training her successor you are to bring Ann home, to here.

The chamber of rest for our order is deep under the foundations of your keep. That is the reason that we could not tell you, as no one but myself or a very few others, could know. Alas if any one discovered our ruse the entire order could have certainly been in jeopardy. That is how intense this war has become. ”

As angry as I was at this news I was also certain that Fay was speaking truthfully, there are many a fact I have held my tongue still about. That is just how it is must be done. An old Scot once put it, Two people can keep a secret, only if one of them is dead.

“Fay you are saying that those who are at rest are sleeping like they are dead but their consciousness is still present, and able to communicate with the still active.?”

She drew herself up into a formal pose, “ I speak as the last remaining member of my order who was living during the war between my people and the humans. Yes, James that is what I am saying and as our guardian elect of this vital secret I charge you to keep and honor the trust of 15,000 years of wisdom and teachings. Including my own mother’s resting place. I trust you are willing to do this for us.

Pulling my self to my full height and performing my ritual salute

“Yes I James McGuffey do swear by all that is honorable and true that I will keep and protect this knowledge beyond my last breath. And may my immortal being suffer in the darkest pit of Tartarus if I should fail at my oath.”

There was a visible sigh of relief that emanated from Keith. “By Mars I hated to beg an elder to do something. I ' really can’t order them to do anything, let us say elders can be more stubborn than a Damascus Donkey. With them it is all carrot and no whip.”

.
Betty
The quiet of the evening gave me the time to really do some serious work tonight. When I did the weaving of the wardings to protect the children and prevent them from intruding I was shocked to find another powerful warding in place. I was not uneasy with the energy and have had this happen before when my Scottish Grandmother communicated with me years ago.

I called down to the desk letting Samantha know we turned in very early and to hold all phone calls and visitors. I then performed my cleansing rituals of both body and spirit. Gathering my sacred items, I donned my robes, cast my circle and protection then settled down in the circle surrounded by my candles and intent to get some answers to my questions.

My first impression was that of the smell of peat burning on a fire with the sharp smell of blood mixed with sweet heather in the back ground. I knew I was on the spiritual plain and that I had been brought here by a very powerful being so lets see where I am. I opened my eyes and carefully stood up inside of my protective circle..

What I saw made me want to retch at the sight of the ghastly wounded and the dying. The population of survivors. were overwhelmed, sorting through the grisly remains for the survivors. There was a party of captive Romans riffling through the pile of what looked to be the remains of a large number of Roman legion bodies The Celts were both men and women trying to untangle their fellow Celts remains from the trash of war. Celts who died in place fighting for their freedom and survival, while the Romans were fighting for a flag. It was a very ' You Are There' moment unlike even the experiences I had at Valley Forge and Salem some years ago.

This was a battle field just after the fact, and nothing could have prepared me for the total carnage of what I was witnessing. There sat in the middle of this mess on the side of an overturned cart a fearsomely decorated woman receiving aid from what must have been a healer of sorts. She was biting on a cloth covered stick as the other women sewed up a nasty gash on the warrior’s upper right arm. On a sword in front of her was the head of a Roman Centurion or some one that was in command. She was staring at it with a smoldering hate that should have caused that bodiless head to burst into flame.

“Liken what you see, lass.? A voice next to me spoke “ I turned to look at an older women who was a carbon copy of the young woman being sewed up.

“ Haven't Ye ever seen the real business end of such a fight before have Ye?”

“ Yes mam I have and at this scale. I had to fight during the Tet offensive when I was a SP in Saigon during the Vietnam war with death staring me in the face I did what I needed to do, I still have nightmares. What I am witnessing here this is as stupid, what a waste of life. Look at this carnage, the Romans had no clams to this land. There greed forced these people to die for there stupid greed. The Romans were butchers and got what they deserved here. “

“ But Betty 'have things' really changed for the better? Or has technology made things really worse? Then I could have picked up my sword and bow and stop or kill the invaders. Now the invaders can come with machines and push homes over. They can use cheating to steal things from their rightful owners owners. Then use others to force at weapon point the owners to leave.

“ You surprised me Lass. Normally when I bring a person as green as yer are here, the reality of my home land and the very forge that made me who I was. They run and hide. What makes you different from them, is that you know when and how to stand and you’re different from me that you have fought on this new battle field most of your adult life. . What I need is to see if you have the stomach to fight with the spirit I did then, pointing at the frozen scene, with the tools you have today. I need you to protect my town from this new type of invader. Outmaneuvering and out thinking them on the battle field? Can you answer me, child?”

Yes, I can.

Why

“ Because my lady, people like I am facing now killed my ancestress and then my grandparents not 10 years ago. Bunch of drunken high school kids stumbled across my family’s wedding, and went on a killing rampage, because my family is Native first people of this land. I had to stand and fight to save my family. I broke my vow of harm to none and I know that I have been paying for that and will be continuing to pay. All but my parents lived and those boys never bothered any one again.”

“ I was suddenly then looking directly into the eyes of the older woman. They were ice blue and cut through me like a laser, she then spoke very softly.”

“ Margret was right about you. There is iron in your spine enough for this doing.” Putting her hands on my shoulders she compassionately spoke “ “Betty, Your Jenny did not die because you stood and fought that day 10 years ago. She died because a drunken driver ran the light. Sometimes random bad things happen to good people and there nay be any reason for it. But you have not crumbled, you have risen to the occasion and pushed on. I needed for you to see this, gesturing with her hand at the frozen scene in front of me, so you can fathom me. My time doing this job has passed; I can not fight in my way and save my hopes and works. I need you as a modern warrior to fill my place with someone who knows how to fight both ways.

When you fought those murders, you violated nothing, you were point defending your family their endings were on there own hands, no different than if they threw them selves if front of a car you were driving. Shed nay any tears for them, lass. And they will not be the last, sometimes a good blade and a firm hand nay afraid to use it is the tool for the job of dispatching vermin. But to deal with the masters of the vermin you need your other skills to win that day.

My time here is limited and passing quickly I need to know are you willien to stand and fight, or do you want to keep running and living as a refugee in your own land?

You can see my decision was to stand, and run no more. That decision cost me my balance of time I had here before my sleep. But please see what it gained as well. There has not been a day since that war with the Romans that I haven't thought of these people and what we payed for that day on that battle field. But for then it purchased my peoples freedom from slavery.

And that is why I stood here and refused to run from the slavery of hate and anger. I created these shields to protect one spot on this Earth against the averse and the desire to destroy life that love and sharing create. When my slumber overtook me I prayed to the goddess for a person who had enough skills and spine to see and enough love to share in my dream of a Haven from hate and murder a Place Where Good Stands a chance. To be willing to stand and fight for it, to run no more. I need you to be making a decision on your free will, think well consider carefully.

Betty

Lady Ann McLaren stood in front of me waiting for a decision I had already made before she brought me here. Ann was renowned to be cut from the same bolt of cloth Lady Morgana LeFay was cut from. All who work in my craft look up to ladies like them and aspire to understand an mimic there total devotion to the cause of love not hate being our core belief. In hopes of capturing the knowing space Ann and Morgona lived in.

Now standing before me with the stench of death and carnage of a battle field around us was Ann McLaren herself in the form she was at the height of physical power asking me to take up her life's legacy. What was a stripling like my self to say.?

Ann

I could sense a wave of energy building within Betty that was coming into focus and resolution.

Betty turned to me raising to her full height. She squared her shoulders and met my eyes straight on. They was a fearsome set to her gaze that to a lesser witch would be downright frightening.

Ann, why a powerful person like your self would be seeking out a homeless women of questionable origins for this massive responsibility. But I accept it is the wisdom you are, brings us to this point. With a steely certainty, Betty stated.

“My Lady McLaren, I accept your challenge and your trust. Teach me what I need to learn and I give you my vow. Here is where I stand, from here there is no retreat. I take my vow to the Goddess with free will and competency to make this decision on my grandparent’s graves I swear my loyalty to Haven and what it stands for. Here I stake myself not to move from Haven’s defense and nurturing. I accept your calling and trust.
Do You Accept Me my Lady McLaren?”

If the world held its breath awaiting for Betty's answer it could now start breathing normally again.

“Lady Betty White Owl I accept your service and I swear to put all resources needed for your services at your disposal. Betty, I will not mislead you there is work to be done and nothing is going to be certain as far as outcome. I know you have the skills to do this but can you focus your intent strongly enough to do this?”

Before I leave for now, watch who then I greet next. And how I greet them.”

The scene moved forward as people came and went asking questions I now could understand. I was amazed at the even handedness and concern this young Ann showed for the endless parade of need and pain.

Then something was brought before the Warrior Queen that shocked my sensibility. It was really tall walking on two legs and looking just like a giant wolf crossed with a human. It wore Roman armor and devices and could speak,sort of. This was observable a parley between two adversaries but there was respect but no anger or hate, there was however respect.

Soon the wolf transformed into a very tall man whose speech was easier to understand, now that it was spoken without a muzzle full of teeth getting in the way. There was an oath taken by him to be her body guard and companion, in exchange for the outlandish number of people he killed protecting the Roman officer whose head Ann now possessed and had been glaring at earlier.

“ Remember that wolf’s face Betty. He will become your best friend and the protector of your children and there children after them. James is a magical being created in the far dark past, he was created to be the perfect body guard and trusted friend. You chose to stay so I will pass his service onto you.

Ann smiled at me then continued; James kept me alive for a ,let us say, very long time,. If you are curious You can do the math lassie.”

Then she was gone, and I was alone in my circle in the present time. It took a couple of minutes for me to gather myself. I got up surprisingly not stiff from my long time of working. But I so desperately needed some tea, and fresh air to revitalize my self and to get the stench of burning peat out of my nose..

Betty

Never in all the years of working craft have I ever experienced such a gut wrenching ordeal. To recap in my journal I started with; I now know who the person in the picture was. Ann and she was far older than I could ever have imagined. She was as driven as old, what I was witnessing was the end of Roman occupation of Scotland and England .That was around 450 AD or thereabout.

I just swore allegiance to a Sorceress that was over 2000 years old, I swore to fulfill her life's biggest accomplishment

Only the legendary sorceress and wizards were ever rumored to live to the age of over 2000 years. No one spoke about them, they only were rumored to exist. So far removed from us we didn't think much about them.

Just finishing my journeying and my second cup of tea. When there was a polite knock at my door. I was a bit upset at the intrusion but I answered the door just the same. I could only see a general shape but feeling more confident than intelligent I open the door. In front of me was the man wolf James whom Ann shown me and spoke of.

“ My lady, Be ye Betty White Owl ? ”

“ Yes sir, how may I be of service.?

“ Nay it is I who may be of service to ye. My name is James McGuffen and I have been requested to make my services available to yourself and your family.”

My head slammed up against a parking stop like realization
“O my God you are real not just a vision? Then the women I talked to was the real Ann McLaren. “ Oh shit o gosh yes yes please come in Mr McGuffen please have a seat in the living room, I have no Scotch maybe a cup of tea perhaps.”

“ The tea will be fine my lady. I never touch the Scotch, but I do like a fine brandy on occasion. But this being our first meeting for business a drink is not proper.”